Jeff Gordon addresses the media after qualifying for the Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. NASCAR announced that Gordon would be added as a 13th driver to the Chase. / Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

JOLIET, Ill. - While Jeff Gordon was undoubtedly thrilled to be a last-minute addition to NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup on Friday, the four-time champion recognized his inclusion came on a grim day for the sport's credibility.

"Yes, the integrity of the sport has been put at question," Gordon said. "I think we have one of the greatest sports that exists. To see our integrity get questioned is very upsetting to me, and I think we, along with NASCAR, have to solve this."

Drivers, along with their crew chiefs, team owners and NASCAR officials, will have a chance to do that. While announcing Gordon was the 13th driver in this year's Chase due to circumstances that may have negatively affected his race finish at Richmond International Raceway when the playoff field of 12 was initially set, NASCAR President Mike Helton said there would be a meeting Saturday afternoon to go over the rules and ethics of the sport going forward.

"There is more concern to me that we get to Homestead and have this come up again," Gordon said. "So it needs to be addressed. Usually what happens in a situation that gets to this magnitude, there is going to be an overreaction and you understand that and accept that. It might need to be modified over time, but I think right now an overreaction is probably the acceptable reaction."

Gordon said he found out he made the Chase while watching a news conference with Helton and NASCAR chairman Brian France live on Fox Sports 1.

Gordon was en route to qualifying for the Chase last Saturday night until Michael Waltrip Racing's Clint Bowyer spun with seven laps to go (Gordon said it was on purpose, Bowyer continues to deny he spun intentionally). Bowyer and MWR's Brian Vickers then made unnecessary pit stops to give Joey Logano two positions on the track and knock Gordon out of the top 10.

Helton initially said Gordon could not be awarded a Chase berth due to the "ripple effect" that came from not knowing what would have happened in the final laps. But when questionable radio chatter from Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing emerged on Wednesday that seemed to indicate David Gilliland gave up track position so Logano could pick up a point, officials decided to put Gordon in the Chase (even though the sanctioning body ruled there was no conclusive proof of any foul play).

Gordon said he had already started to move on early this week after missing the Chase, beginning to let some of his anger and disappointment fade in hopes of accepting what happened.

Gordon called Helton on Wednesday to tell him he accepted whatever NASCAR's decision was. The two did not discuss Gordon's possible installation into the Chase.

Even Friday morning, Gordon said he wasn't optimistic. Then, he was in - an unprecedented addition to make a baker's dozen.

"We don't know what the results were going to be because of the circumstances of that spin changed everything," he said. "That, to me, is the only reason I'm accepting being in in the 13th, because under normal circumstances I would say no, that's not right.

"But under these circumstances, I feel there is enough reason for us to be in. I know how hard we worked and that we earned the right to be in."

Though NASCAR may issue new rules about helping teammates on Saturday, Gordon said there's a line that was crossed.

"You don't go cause a caution," he said. "You don't go wreck another guy out there to win the championship for them. There are certain lines, and I think that the lines have been, obviously, crossed in this situation."